China and US still key trade partners, commerce minister says

China and the United States remain important trade and economic partners, and American companies are welcome to invest, the Chinese commerce minister told a U.S. business delegation on Wednesday, according to his ministry.

Trade relations between the countries have seen ups and downs but dialogue and consultation on "an equal footing" are the key to resolving differences, Wang Wentao told the US-China Business Council, the ministry statement said.

The minister also pointed to the trade talks between China and the U.S., the latest one being held in Stockholm earlier this week, and said it is hoped both countries can meet halfway so that they can jointly maintain stable relations.

U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce on Tuesday, following two days of what both sides described as constructive talks in Stockholm aimed at defusing an escalating trade war between the world's two biggest economies that threatens global growth.